TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Trump administration plans to increase weapons sales and deliveries to Taiwan over the next few years at a level that will surpass Trump’s first term, Reuters reported on Friday.
The White House is also exerting pressure on opposition KMT members in the Legislative Yuan, urging them not to impede the Lai administration’s efforts to increase national defense spending to 3% of GDP. The report is based on statements from two US officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
According to the report, the US authorized around US$18.3 billion (NT$547 billion) in arms sales to Taiwan under the previous Trump administration, compared to US$8.4 billion (NT$251 billion) under former President Joe Biden.
Despite concerns over Trump’s commitment to the defense of Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense remains confident that the US is capable and willing to deter Chinese aggression targeting the nation. The latest reports that Washington plans to boost weapons sales to Taiwan will further ease worries about the Trump administration’s support for Taiwan.
US officials quoted in the Reuters report said Trump personally expressed a commitment to “enhancing hard deterrence” for Taiwan. The officials said a new arms package is already being prepared, but that it is dependent on the Taiwanese side procuring adequate funding.
Amid Taiwan’s ongoing domestic dispute over the national budget, US officials are actively trying to message to the opposition KMT and TPP ahead of a vote on a special defense budget drafted by the DPP administration.
The report quoted one anonymous US official, “We're messaging pretty hard (in Taipei) to the opposition. Don't get in the way of this. This isn't a Taiwanese partisan question. This is a Taiwanese survival question.”
The Ministry of National Defense declined to report on any new arms packages being negotiated. The Presidential Office emphasized that it is determined to work with partners like the US to ensure Taiwan has the means to defend itself.
